Change speed driving mechanism



Feb. 8, 1938. A. F. KAPTULLER 2,107,417

CHANGE SPEED DRIVING MECHANISM I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1956Feb. 8, 1938. A. F. KAPTULLER CHANGE SPEED DRIVING MECHANISM Filed Oct.21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNlED STATES PATNTOFFIQE 10 Claims.

My invention relates to driving mechanism and particularly to a changespeed driving mechanism for use in connection with an electric motor,and it has for its object the provision of. a new 5 and improved formand arrangement of parts making up a driving mechanism of unit formcapable of use to very great advantage for new installations and alsoadapted to be substituted advantageously in connection with oldinstallations of motors and driving mechanism with only a minimum changeof arrangement.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improvedmechanism of this type of such compact form as to enable it to beemployed at points where the available space is limited, and so arrangedthat ample support is provided for the moving parts so as to cut downvibration and noise to a minimum. It is one of. the objects of myinvention to provide an improved construc-- tion of change speed drivingmechanism of compact form with the driving pulley of the mechanismpositioned closely adjacent to the end of the motor in substantially thesame location as that usually occupied by the driving pulley of 25 anarrangement comprising a motor and its drive means but not involvingchange speed mechanism, the arrangement being such that a change speeddrive of my improved type can very readily be substituted in place of anold arrangement in which no change speed mechanism was employed. It isanother object of my invention to provide an arrangement of this typeinvolving also a reverse speed mechanism having a cooperative relationwith the remaining parts 3 whereby either forward or reverse driving maybe effected at any one of the plurality of speeds of driving available.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of. this type insundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which Ihave accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings andare hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be newand desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view through the preferred formof my improved mechanism in position on the end of a motor partly brokenaway;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view of one of the clutch shifting levers as seen from theleft in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line 64 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, H]indicates an electric motor of any approved type having a pinion l Imounted upon its armature shaft l2. In the arrangement shown, frame bars53 and M are secured on the end of the motor I at opposite sides of thearmature shaft l2, being connected at their outer ends with a verticallypositioned frame plate l5. Upon the outer face of the plate I I havemounted a housing member it in the form of a shell which serves both asa housing and as an extension of the framework longitudinally of theaxis of. the motor.

Within the framework comprising the plate l5 and the shell it, I havemounted a hollow shaft ll, such shaft being mounted at its inner end bymeans of a ball bearing l8 carried by the plate l5 and being mounted atits outer end by means of a ball bearing device is mounted in a flange20 formed upon the outer end of the shell IS. A second shaft 2! islocated Within the hollow shaft ll, being supported at its inner end bymeans of a ball bearing 22 carried by the hollow shaft and beingsupported at its outer end by means of a ball bearing 23 carried by aring 24 comprising an extension of the end flange 20.

At the inner end of the hollow shaft I1, I have provided a cylinder 25which in the arrangement shown is formed integrally with the hollowshaft, such cylinder being concentric with the axis of the shaft so asto serve effectively as a driving pulley whereby power may be deliveredfrom the motor through the medium of a belt 26. Upon the inner end ofthe shaft 2! inside of the hollow pulley 25, I have mounted a transverseplate 2? which in the arrangement shown is formed integrally with theshaft 2|. Upon the inner face of the plate 27, I have mounted aninternal gear 28 of such form as to have effective driving engagementwith the pinion l I of the motor H] for driving the shaft 2! at areduced rate by the power of the motor. In the arrangement shown, thegear 28 and pinion II are located completely within the hollow pulley 25so as to avoid any increase in the length of the mechanism by reason oftheir use.

Upon the outer end of the shaft 2 l, I have revolubly mounted a clutchcasing 29 which is connected by means of a plate clutch 30 with theshaft 2|, the plate clutch so being of any approved form by which thecasing 29 may be effectively connected with the shaft. Operating meansfor the clutch of the usual form are provided, such operating meanscomprising a drum 3| and a lever 32 by which the drum may be forcedtoward the left for pressing the clutch plates into cooperative relationfor driving the casing 29 from the shaft 2|. In the arrangement shown,the clutch lever 32 is mounted upon a cap 33 which serves as a means forclosing the outer end of the shell l6. 7

Within the shell |9 alongside of the hollow shaft |1, I have revolublymounted a counter-shaft 34, such counter-shaft in the arrangement shownbeing supported by a ball bearing 35 mounted in the flange 29 and a ballbearing 36 mounted in the plate l5. This counter-shaft is provided withpinions 31, 38, 39 and 49 which are loosely mounted on the shaft, clutchmechanisms 4| and 42 being provided for connecting any one of suchpinions with the shaft as may be desired. As is clearly shown in Fig. 2,each of the clutch mechanisms 4| and 42 comprises a yoke 43 which isswingingly mounted upon a rock shaft 44 having a clutch lever 45 mountedon its outer end whereby the movable member of the clutch can'be throwninto and out of clutching engagement with its cooperating parts. Thelever 45 is normally held in adjusted position by means of a springpressed pin 46 carried by the wall of the shell l so as to engage anyone of a plurality of openings 41 in the lever.

Upon the hollow shaft I1, I have mounted gears 48, 49, 55 and 5| whichengage the pinions 31, 38, 39 and 49 respectively, said gears beingrigidly secured upon the hollow shaft H by means of a key 52 as isclearly shown in Fig. 1. As willbe readily understood, by a selection ofthe pinion 31, 38, 39 or 49 to be connected'with the countershaft 34,thespeed of rotation of the hollow shaft 61 as driven by thecounter-shaft 34 can be regulated.

Operative driving connections are provided between the clutch housing 29and the countershaft 34 by means of a gear 53 mounted upon the clutchhousing and a gear 54 mounted upon the counter-shaft, such gears in turnbeing connected by auxiliary gearing as best shown in Fig. 4. Thisconnecting gearing comprises a ring 55 which is revolubly mounted abouta hub portion of the ring '24, the ring 55 being held in position withrespect to the ring portion 24 and the flange 29 by means of a keeperplate 56 engaging the upper portion of said ring 55 as is clearly shownin Fig. 4. Upon the ring 55, I have mounted a pinion 51 at one side andtwo intermeshing pinions 59 and 59 at the opposite side, the pinions 51and 58 being in meshing engagement with the gear 53. At one side of thering 55, Ihave provided an arm 99 which extends outwardly through thewall of the housing member I6, being provided at its the pinion 59 isbrought into outer end with a spring pressed pin5| adapted to engage anyone of a plurality of openings 52 in said wall so as to hold the ring 55from rotary movement. The arrangement is such that when the parts are inthe position as shown in Fig. 4, the pinions 51 and 59 are both out ofmesh with the gear 54. When the ring 55 is rotated in clockwisedirectionin Fig. 4 from the position as shown, the pinion 51 is broughtinto mesh with the gear 54 so as to drive the counter-shaft 34 in onedirection from the shaft 2|. 'Upon rotary movement of the ring in theopposite direction, operative meshing engagement with the gear 54 fordriving the counter-shaft in the opposite direction, by power from saidshaft 2|. The arrangement is such 'tions between said second and thatthe pinion 51 is held in mesh with the gear 54 when the pin 6| is in theuppermost one of the openings 62, while the pinion 59 is held inoperative meshing engagement with the gear 54 when the pin BI is in thelowermost opening 62.

As will be readily understood, when the motor I9 is in operation so asto drive the pinion H, the shaft 2| is driven by said pinion at areduced speed of rotation. With the clutch 32 closed so as to connectthe casing member 29 with the shaft 2 l and with the pinion 51 in meshwith the gear 54, the counter-shaft 34 is driven in the same directionas the shaft 2| and at the same speed. In the arrangement shown, thepinion 31 and the gearv 4B are of the same diameter so as to provide fordriving the hollow shaft I! in either direction at the same speed asthat v is being driven. The relative sizes of the remaining pinions 38,39 and 40 and their cooperating gears 49, 53 and 5| are such that by theuse of a different set of cooperating parts the speed of rotation of thehollow shaft |1 may be varied considerably with respect to the speed ofrotation of in which the driving pulley is mounted directly at the endof the motor, power being delivered to such driving pulley through themedium of a hollow shaft along which change speed mechanismis arranged,a high degree of compactness is provided. In my improved arrangement asshown, the drive shaft 2| and the hollow shaft H are both effectivelysupported so as to out down the noise and vibration to a minimum. By myarrangement, the overall length of the driving mechanism is made verysmall. By reason of the location of the driving pulley closely adjacentto the end of the motor, I am enabled very readily to substitute myimproved mechanism in place oflan installation not provided with changespeed mechanism, the substitution requiring in many cases nothing otherthan an adjustment of the length of the driving belt.

While I prefer to employ the form and arrangement of parts as shown inmy drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that myinvention is not limited to such form and arrangement except as it maybe so limited by the claims, it being understood that changes might wellbe made from the arrangement shown without departing from my invention.

I claim:-

1. In a change speed driving mechanism for a motor, the combination of aframe member,

a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on said frame member, means formounting said frame member in position for supporting said hollow shaftin parallel relation to the axis of the motor eccentrically thereof, asecond shaft extending through said hollow shaft and revolubly supportedat its outer end by said frame member beyond the end of the hollowshaft, a cylinder rigidly mounted on said hollow shaft concentricallythereof at the end portion adjacent to the motor serving as a drivingpulley for said hollow shaft, gear means located largely inside of saidcylinder for connecting said second shaft with the motor for driving theshaft, a third shaft revolubly mounted on said frame member alongside ofsaid hollow shaft, driving connecthird shafts, and change speed drivingconnections between said hollow shaft'and said third shaft.

2. Ina'change speed driving mechanism for a motor, the combination of aframe member,

at which the shaft 2| a hollow shaft rotatably mounted on said framemember, means for mounting said frame member in position for supportingsaid hollow shaft in parallel relation to the axis of the motoreccentrically thereof, a second shaft extending through said hollowshaft and revolubly supported at its outer end by said frame memberbeyond the end of the hollow shaft, a cylinder rigidly mounted on saidhollow shaft concentrically thereof at the end portion adjacent to themotor serving as a driving pulley for said hollow shaft, an internalgear mounted on said second shaft largely inside of said cylinderadapted by meshing engagement with the driving pinion of the motor torotate said second shaft, a third shaft revolubly mounted on said framemember alongside of said hollow shaft, driving connections between saidsecond and third shafts, and change speed driving connections betweensaid hollow shaft and said third shaft.

3. In a change speed driving mechanism for a motor, the combination of aframe member, means for mounting said frame member rigidly in positionwith respect to the motor at one end of the motor, a hollow shaftrotatably mounted on said frame member in parallel relation to the axisof the motor, a second shaft extending through said hollow shaft havinga driving connection at one end with said motor and revolubly mounted atits opposite end in said frame member beyond the outer end of the hollowshaft, a third shaft revolubly mounted on said frame member alongside ofsaid hollow shaft, driving connections between said second and thirdshafts for driving the third shaft in either direction from said secondshaft, and change speed driving connections between said hollow shaftand said third shaft.

4. In a change speed driving mechanism for a motor, the combination of aframe comprising a plate and a housing member secured to the plate andextending from one face thereof, means for mounting said frame rigidlyon said motor at one end of the motor, a hollow shaft extending throughan opening in said plate and through said housing and rotatably mountedat its inner end in said plate and at its outer end in said housing, asecond shaft extending through said hollow shaft having a drivingconnection at one end with said motor and revolubly mounted at itsopposite end in said housing beyond the outer end of the hollow shaft, athird shaft extending through said housing alongside of said hollowshaft and revolubly mounted at both ends in said frame, drivingconnections between said second and third shafts, and change speeddriving connections between said hollow shaft and said third shaft.

5. In a change speed driving mechanism for a motor, the combination of aframe comprising a plate and a housing member secured to the plate andextending from one face thereof, means for mounting said frame rigidlyon said motor at one end of the motor, a hollow shaft extending throughan opening in said plate and through said housing and rotatably mountedat its inner end in said plate and at its outer end in said housing, asecond shaft extending through said hollow shaft having a drivingconnection at one end with said motor and revolubly mounted at itsopposite end in said housing beyond the outer end of the hollow shaft, athird shaft extending through said housing alongside of said hollowshaft and revolubly mounted at its inner end on said plate and revolublymounted at its outer end in said housing, driving connections betweensaid second and third shafts, and change speed driving connectionsbetween said hollow shaft and said third shaft.

6. In a change speed driving mechanism, the combination of a housing, ahollow shaft extending through said housing and rotatably mounted atboth end portions therein, means for mounting said housing rigidly onsaid motor at one end of the motor so as to support said hollow shaft inparallel relation to the axis of the motor, a second shaft extendingthrough said hollow shaft having a driving connection at one end withsaid motor and revolubly mounted at its opposite end in said housingbeyond the outer end of the hollow shaft, a third shaft extendingthrough said housing alongside of said hollow shaft and revolublymounted at both ends in said housing, driving connections between saidsecond and third shafts, and change speed driving connections betweensaid hollow shaft and said third shaft.

'7. In a change speed driving mechanism for an electric motor, thecombination of two frame bars secured to the motor and extending atopposite sides of the motor shaft, a frame plate secured to said bars intransverse position opposite the end of the motor shaft, a frame membersecured to said frame plate and extending outwardly therefrom, a shaftrotatably mounted on said framework and operatively connected with themotor shaft so as to be driven thereby, a hollow shaft in concentricposition on said first named shaft and rotatably mounted on saidframework, a third shaft rotatably mounted on said framework alongsideof said hollow shaft, driving connections between said first named shaftand said third shaft, and change speed driving connections between saidthird shaft and said hollow shaft.

8. In a change speed driving mechanism for an electric motor, thecombination of two frame bars secured to the motor and extending atopposite sides of the motor shaft, a frame plate secured to said bars intransverse position opposite the end of the motor shaft, a frame memberin the form of a housing secured to said frame plate and extendingoutwardly therefrom and partially closed at its outer end by atransversely positioned flange, a shaft rotatably mounted at its outerend in said flange and operatively connected at its inner end with thedriving shaft of said motor so as to be driven thereby, a hollow shaftin concentric position on said first named shaft and rotatably mountedat its end portions in said frame plate and said flange respectively, athird shaft rotatably mounted between said frame plate and said flangealongside of said hollow shaft, driving connections between said firstnamed shaft and said third shaft, and change speed driving connectionsbetween said third shaft and said hollow shaft.

9. In a change speed driving mechanism for an electric motor, thecombination of two frame bars secured to the motor and extending atopposite sides of the motor shaft, a frame plate secured to said bars intransverse position opposite the end of the motor shaft, a frame memberin the form of a, housing secured to said frame plate and extendingoutwardly therefrom and partially closed at its outer end by atransversely positioned flange, a shaft rotatably mounted at its outerend in said flange and operatively connected at its inner end with thedriving shaft of said motor so as to be driven thereby, a hollow shaftin concentric position on said first named shaft and rotatably mountedat its end frame plate and said flange respectively,

portions. in said named shaft opposite said first named gear but out ofmesh therewith, a ring rotatably mounted on the outer face of saidflange about said first named shaft,'pinions rotatably mounted on saidring in driving relationship to said second gear and adapted upon rotarymovement of said ring in opposite directions to engage said first namedgear for driving it alternatively in opposite directions, latch means onthe outside of said housing for releasably holding said ring in adjustedposition, and change speed driving connections between said third shaftand said hollow shaf 10. A unit arrangement of change speed drivingmechanism for an electric motor, comprising in combination two framebars adapted-to be removably secured to a motor at opposite sides of thedriving shaft of the motor, a frame plate sea third 7 a second gear onsaid first cured to said bars in transverse position opposite the end ofthe motor shaft, a frame member secured to said frame plate andextending outwardly therefrom, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted at itsopposite end portions on said framework, a third shaft extending throughsaid hollow shaft and rotatably mounted at one end portion in saidhollow shaft and at its opposite end portion in said framework beyondthe outer end of the hollow shaft, a hollow driving member mountedconcentrically on said hollow shaftabout the outer end portion of thedriving shaft of the motor, a second driving member mountedconcentrically on said third shaft inside of said hollow driving member,means for operatively connecting said second driving member with thedriving shaft of the motor, a fourth shaft revolubly mounted on saidframework alongside of said hollow shaft, driving connections betweensaid third and fourth shafts, and change speed driving connectionsbetween said hollow shaft'and said fourth shaft.

ALEXANDER F. KAPTULLER.

